Sled-propeller



(No Model.)

VP.A.SCELAEPER. SLEDvPROPELLER. 10.506,079.

Patented Oct. 3,1893.i

Anon/vers.

UNITED STATES yPATENT OFFICE.

FRIEDERICH AUGUST SCHAEFER, OF TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA.

SLED-PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,079, dated October 3', 1893.

Y Application filed December 31, 1892. Serial No. 456,888. (No model.)

To ally whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDEEICH AUGUST SCHAEFER, of Truckee, in the county of Nevada and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Sleigh, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object ofthe invention is to providea new and improved sleigh, which is simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation, and arranged to .be readily propelled and steered over ice or snow, either by the occupant or by a suitable motor arranged within the sleigh body.

The invention consists of certain parts and details, and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part of one of the paddle wheels. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of part of the rim of the paddle wheel. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of 'one of the paddles. Fig. 6 Vis a perspective view of the brake. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of steering device.

The improved sleigh is provided with abox A made of suitable dimensions and turned up at the front end, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. The bottom of the box A is provided with the usual longitudinally-extending runners B of which two or more may be employed according to the width of the box. On each side of the box are arranged longitudinallyextending beams C and C pivoted at their front ends at D to the box of the sleigh, the said beams being mounted to swing vertically in suitable bearings E and E respectively attached to the sidesof the box A, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

On the beams C and C near the rear end thereof are journaled the transversely-extending shafts F and F respectively, carrying the paddle wheels G and G respectively extending on the outside of the box A to engage with their paddles, the snow or ice, to propel the sleigh forward or to steer the same to the right and left, as hereinafter more fully explained.

The shafts F and F are provided with suitable crank arms H and H respectively, extending within the box A and adapted to be taken hold of by the occupants to rotate the paddle wheels G and G', or the said crank arms may be connected by pitmen with asuitable motor arranged within the box A so that the'sleigh is propelled by power. Each of the paddle wheels G or G can be raised or lowered and for this purpose, therear end of each beam C or C is provided with a rearwardly and upwardly extending curved arm C2 engaging the rim of a friction roller I journaled in the free end of a lever I` fulcrumed at its lower end at I2 to the rear end of the box A, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. The free end of the lever I is connected with a rope J extending forwardly and passing over a pulley K journaled on the rearmost bearing E or E respectively, so that the lower downwardly hanging end of the rope J is under the control of the operator located within Ythe box A, the said lower end of the rope being preferably provided with a suitable handle J connected with a treadle J2 arranged in the bottom of the box A. Now, when it is desired to raise the paddle wheel G or G out of the snow or ice, the operator pulls the respective handle J so that a for-` ward swinging motion is given to the leverI, which, by its friction roller I causes the curved arm Cito be raised, thus imparting a swinging motion to the respective beam C or C carrying the shaft F or F of the paddle wheels G or G respectively. In a like manner, by releasing the pull on the handle J the paddle wheels are lowered bythe desired swinging of the beam C or C.

Each of the paddle wheels G or G is provided with spokes G2 each having its upper end forked as at G3 the outside prongs of the 'several spokes being. rigidly connected with G5 preferably madeY of sheet metal, steel or`v TOE) other suitable material with the outer edges serrated as atG, as plainly shown in the drawings.

In order to conveniently fasten each paddle G5 to the oppositely arranged rings G4 of the wheel on each side near the bottom of the paddle, a lug G7 is bolted or riveted to the respective rim at the inside thereof, as plainly shown in Fig. 3.

In order to securely hold the paddle in place I provide the in side of each rim G4 with a lug or projection G8 adapted to engage the back of the paddle G5 to securely` hold the paddle in the proper radial position when e11- gaging the snow orice and longitudinal strain is put on the respective paddle.

In order to stop the sleighI provideabrake L, preferably made of a spring metal bar L secured to the rear end of the sleigh and projecting beyond the same, the lower outer end of the bar being serrated or formed with teeth as at L2 to readily engage the snow, ice or ground when the spring bar L2 is pressed downward by the operator stepping on the said bar. The serrations orteeth L2 then engage the snow or ice or ground, thereby acting as a brake to stop the sleigh.

In order to conveniently pass the sleigh over ground I provide a pair of wheels N for raising the front end of the box A off the ground at the same time forming front wheels, so that the sleigh can be propelled forward, traveling on the two wheels N and the paddlewheels G and G. The wheels N have their axle journaled in arms O pivoted at O to the sides of the box A and adapted to be normally locked in place by a suitable pin O2 passing through the arms O into suitable apertures in bars O3 secured to the sleigh body A. Now, when it is desired to wheel the sleigh over the ground, the arms O are swung downward into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, whereby the axle of the wheels N supports the front end of the sleigh A, the wheels N then traveling on the ground. The under side of the sleigh is thus lifted entirely `oi the ground, it being understood that the paddle wheels G, G are then in a lowermost position with the beams C, C resting on the sides of the box A and locked in place thereon by bolts passing through apertures in one of the bearings E or E and corresponding apertures in the beams C and C respectively. As soon as snow or ice is again reached the front end of the box A is lifted upward, the arms O are swung from under the box up into the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, in which position the arms are again locked by inserting the pin or bolt O2 to lock the said arms in place.

It is understood that each beam C or C can be raised or lowered and locked in place by a suitable pin passing through an aperture in the respective bearing E or E', and a corresponding aperture in the beam C or C. Thus, according to the nature of the snow or ice, the paddles G5 may be passed more or less into the snow or ice or completely out of the same so as not to touch the ice.

It will be seen that when the paddle wheels are adjusted and both shafts F and F are rotated simultaneously, the paddles G5 of the wheels engaging the snow or ice, propel the sleigh A forward. Now, when it is desired to tu rn the sleigh to the right, the operator pulls the respective handle J to raise the beam C' to move the paddle wheel G out of contact with the snow or ice. On the further rotating of the paddle wheel G, the sleigh will turn to the right as no resistance is oiered on the right side of the box A. In a like manner when it is desired to turn the sleigh to the left, the left wheel G is turned outotl contact with the snow or ice, while the other wheel G is rotated and by its contact with the snow or ice on the right side of the box A turns the latter to the left, as no resist-ance is oered on theleft side of the box A. Thus, the paddle wheels are not only used for propelling the sleigh, but also for steering the same either to the right or left. The sleigh can also be steered by rudders Q and Q arranged angularly on the rear end of the box A as plainly shown in Fig. 7. The rudders Q and Q are secured on levers Q2 and Q3 respectively, extending into the box A and pivoted to the bottom thereof. A spring Q4 holds each lever in an uppermost position to hold the respective rudder outof contact with the snow. By the operator pressing the respective lever with his foot or otherwise the rudder moves downward into contact with the snow to steer the sleigh in the desired direction. This device is more especially designed for use on small curves in the roadway, dce.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patentl. A sleigh comprising the box or frame, provided with runners and separate and independent vertically adjustable driving wheels mounted at the rear end of the box or frame to engage the snow or ice, substantially as set forth.

2. A sleigh comprising the box or frame provided with runners, separate and independent vertically adjustable side driving wheels mounted at the rear end of the box or frame to engage the snow or ice, and a brake L extending through the rear end of the sleigh and operated by the operators foot, substantially as set forth.

3. A sleigh comprising the box or frame provided with runners, separate and independent vertically adjustable side driving wheels, the brake L and the rudders QQ provided with foot levers Q2 Q5, substantially as set forth.

4E. A sleigh, comprising a box, beams pivoted near the front end of the said box and extending longitudinally, paddle wheelsjournaled near the rear ends of the said beams and extending down the sides of the box,

IOS

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means, substantially as described, for rotating the said paddle Wheels from Within the box, and Wheels mounted on pivoted arms arranged on the front end of the box, substantially as shown and described.

5. A sleigh, comprising a box, beams pivoted near the front end of the said box and extending longitudinally, paddle wheels journaled near the rear ends of the said beams and extending down the sides of the box, means, substantially as described, for rotating the said paddle Wheels from Within the box, curved arms projecting rearwardly from the said beams, levers pivoted on the rear end of the box, and each provided with a frictional' roller engaging the said curved arms of the beams, and a rope connected with each lever and passing over a friction pulley journaled on a bearing for the said beams, substantially as shown and described.

6. A sleigh, comprising a box, beams pivoted on the front end of the said box, bearings for the said beams, and secured to the sides of the box, paddle wheels journaled on the said beams, and means, substantially as described, for fastening the said beams in place in the said bearings, substantially as described.

7. A sleigh provided with a paddle wheel comprising a hub, spokes extending from the said hub and each formed at its free end with a fork, rings secured to the prongs of the said forks, and paddles extending transversely and secured to the said rings, substantially as shown and described.

8. A sleigh provided with a paddle Wheel comprising a hub, spokes extending from the said hub and each formed at its free end with a fork, rings secured to the prongs of the said forks, paddles extending transversely and secured to the said rings, each of the said paddles being formed with serrations at its outer edge, substantially as shown and described.

FRIEDERICH AUGUST SCHAEFER.

Witnesses:

FRED. A. IRISH, GEO. SOHAFFER. 

